On August 18, 2011, Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), met with visiting U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden at the Great Hall of the People.

China and the United States share broad and important common interests, and the bilateral relationship is intrinsically reciprocal, said Wu. The relations between China and the U.S. have gone far beyond the bilateral sphere and gained far-reaching strategic significance and global influence. During President Hu Jintao's visit to the United States in January, the leaders of the two countries reached important consensus on working to build China-U.S. cooperative partnership of mutual respect and mutual benefit, which opened a new era for the development of China-U.S. relations. "China will work with the U.S. side to implement consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, and promote further development of the cooperative partnership," Wu said. He expressed belief that as long as both sides adhere to the spirit of staying in the same boat to overcome difficulties, strengthen dialogue, communication and cooperation, continue to enhance strategic mutual trust, respect each other's core interests and major concerns, and properly handle differences and sensitive issues, China-U.S. relations will surely have bright prospects for development.

Friendly exchanges between the NPC and U.S. Congress have an irreplaceable role to play in promoting bilateral relations, Wu said, noting the two legislatures have maintained close exchanges in recent years. The NPC of China is ready to further enhance friendly exchanges with the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to give full play to their regular exchange mechanism and keep closer cooperation in various areas and at all levels, so as to build up China-U.S. strategic mutual trust, promote pragmatic cooperation, deepen people-to-people friendship and strive to become a constructive force for a sound development of China-U.S. relations.

Biden said the U.S.-China relationship is the most critical bilateral relationship in the world. The success of the two countries is conducive to development and stability of the whole world. Cooperation between the U.S. and China, two major economies in the world, is critical to economic growth of the two countries and the world at large as the world economy is facing severe challenges. The U.S. side hoped China's 12th Five Year Plan can be implemented successfully. Biden said a prosperous, united and strong China is in the interests of the United States. He said the different histories, cultures and systems of the two countries should provide opportunities for bilateral cooperation not obstacles. The two countries should seize the historical opportunities, be candid in their discussions and strengthen cooperation for the benefit of both peoples, he added.